LYNDEN — The Port Angeles boys, playing an exceptionally tough non-conference schedule, took 1A powerhouse Lynden Christian to the wire this weekend.
In the end, it took a controversial call in the final seconds to bail out the Lyncs, as a foul call with less than 3 seconds left gave Lynden Christian the game-winning free throws in a 62-61 victory Saturday night.
Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin doesn’t complain much about officiating, but he said it was a terrible call. He told his players, “We beat them fair and square in their gym.”
The Riders had the Lyncs on the ropes for much of the game, building up a lead as big as nine points in the second half. Lynden Christian came back, taking a 60-59 lead on a 28-foot 3-pointer by Andrew DeVries in the final seconds.
After a timeout, the Roughriders worked the ball inside to Derek Bowechop and he drew a foul while going for a layup. Down by a point, he made two clutch free throws with seven seconds left to give the Riders a lead.
With three seconds left, Lynden Christian got the ball into the frontcourt and drew the foul. The Lyncs made their free throws to pull out the victory.
How good is Lynden Christian? They’ve lost three games all year — one to an undefeated Burlington-Edison team that is the No. 1 ranked 2A team in the state and one to Glacier Park, the No 1-ranked 4A team in the state. They’ve also lost to 4A Monroe by three points.
This is the team that the Riders took to the final seconds.
“I’ve never been more proud of this team,” Ulin said.
The Riders have played the Lyncs for two years and agreed this year to play another home-and-home series with the 1A power, which was fourth in the state tournament last year and is ranked in the top 10 of the RPI this year.
The Riders had their usual balance in this game with four players in double figures. Damen Ringgold led Port Angeles with 14 points, while Chase Cobb had 12, Anton Kathol 11 and Gary Johnson III 10.
The Lyncs, who have seven 6-footers listed on their roster, were led by Bryce Bouwmen with 18 and DeVries with 11.
Port Angeles(4-1, 9-4) jumps back into league play with a crucial game Tuesday against Olympic Peninsula rival Sequim 3-2, 8-5. That game is in Sequim at 7:30 p.m.
Lynden Christian 62, Port Angeles 61
PA 15 16 17 13 — 61
LC 15 13 11 23 — 62
Port Angeles (61) — Ringgold 14, Cobb 12, Kathol 11, Johnson 10, Clark 5, Bowechop 4, Maestas 3, Jarnigan 2.
Lynden Christian (62) — Bouwman 18, DeVries 11, DeBoer 8, Simpa 8, Dykstra 6, Moorlag 5, Hommes 5, Whittern 1.
